Tie-tamping machine



.D. A. ROBINSON. TIE TAMPING MACHINE.l

NL'IV n. A. ROBINSON. TIE TAMPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2l l92l- Patented May 9, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI 24 ya AFM D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAMP |NG MACHINE, AFPLicATloN HLED FEB. 21. 1921.

Patented May 9, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTO'R afm/mv- Hla AvroRNEYS D. A. ROBINSON.

TIE TAIVIPING MACHINE.

:orerr'roiv n. *Inoisrnsom or sEA'rrLE, WASHINGTON.

'rra:'.raivnrrneYavracrrrmn.

Specificationv of LettersIEatentA l 'Patented kMisty 9, 1922.

. Applicatonfled rFebruaryxZL 1921. Serial Ilia-4463871.

` terial under and between railroad ties inthe operation ofballasting fthe -tracks,.and the general object oi` theinvention isztodispense, as `tar as possible, with manual labor, nonT needed for the work, and providefa .machine that will rapidly andetliciently 'ballast the tracks with a Eminimum amountotattendev ance.

A special object isto so mount the ,guns which carry the tamper bars thatithe slower endet any tamper bar, when the working vertical angle ispadjustedvor changedfduring the progresser-thc work, will swing around an imaginary center near the Ylower edges of the tics; .and means .for adjusting-.this center ttor different sizes offties in orderftopositively tuck the ballasting material thoroughly and-firmly under and around the ties.

-Qther objects are to provideamachie of this class that 4will be light of weight, land, therefore, easy to handle in removing from and `replacing-on .the track,whi ch, by reason `of traHic, frequently becomes necessary.; and a machine which will possess .superior flexibility and facility for placing and adjusting the tampingrbars tothe .variousp siticns necessary todo rapid and efficient work.` y f The invention consists rgenerally vin v`certain novel constructions ,and combinations, all as Ihereinaiter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, with l,reference to the` accompanying f drawings forming a part-of this specification, lin which,

lFigure 1 is a side elevation insection-of a machine constructed .in accordance with my invention. thesecti'o-nbeing taken on the line 1`-1 of Figure 2,

Figure 2 .is an end elevation ofthe machine7 part y in section, on theline 2-2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional viewof one Y or the air cylinders -and cable connections,

used `for :quickly moving the `tamper guns transverselylof the ftrack, c

Figurefa is afs'ectional view on the `line 4:*4 ot'Figure 3.,

Eigure is adetailsectiona'l view, of one endof one of the airvcylinders and .piston therein, y

-FigureiGis across section-of one of the valves used for controlling and moving the air guns to Etheir 1various. positions, thesectionfbeingtaken on theiline-66 of Figure 9,

Figure 7 fisaside-elevationfof.afbattery of the controlling valves, f

Eigure 8 -is a ,planviewf of :Figure 7,

v lFigure :9 is a-:section von fthe line 9-9 of FigureiS,

Figure 10 isafside-'elevation of one ofithe tamper gunsand sectional .View of fthe air cylinder and @supporting linkage', illustrating -the :methodvof .obtaining .the swinging motion 'ofthe-tamper `bars :around an imaginany center i or .pointfnear the `lower edges offthelti'es, i

. 1Figure11 showsa-modiied method of detachably connecting 'the tamper guns tothe pistonirodsfandicrossfheads of the air cylinders,and,

`Figure 12 is a modified yform of piston control.. y

In the drawings, 15 representsthe side members and 152L the iend members of 'the skeleton rect-angular trame of `the machine, preferably constructed of channel bars, rigidly `secured together in the conventional way. Anti-vibration truss yrods 16 and -17 arendjustably secured-'to theend frame bars 15a and supported in suitable central struts 18. Axles 19 -have -suitable journals (not shown) onithe `frame 115' and lflanged wheels 2O -gauged to mun upon `the rails 21 are secured to theaxles 19 as in `ordinary railroad car construction.

` Near,the` wheels .120.are fmounted rollers or wheels 22 in brackets .23 `for the purpose of air compressor 29- and an internal combusf tion or other suitable motor 30 to drivethe compressor 29 is mounted adjacent thereto upon similar frame yloars2t@l While the motor may be coupled direct to thecompres`-Y sor by means of a friction clutch 31, it is preferable in using a high-speedengine Aor, motor to drive the compressor by means of suitable reduction gearing 32.'v

The clutch 31 may be controlled by a suitable lever 33 (Figures 1"and'f2). Compressed air iscondi cted from the compressor .29 through a pipe 3dr-,having a'conventional n pressure gage 35 to a compressed 'air tank iorvoir 37,1supported.upon and located transversely between the iframe members 15.v Upon this tank is preferably supported the `air cylinders l38 used for the lateral adjustment of the tamper guns 39 and lateral guidevvays 40v and 41 arel alsosecuredv to the tank Themachine comprises one or more tamper units Working o ppos'itely on each side of the tank 37, as shoivn'in Figure l, andas these opposite units are of precisely the'-fsameconstruct-M1151 Will'd'escribe the right hand unit only, it being understood that the same' 'description applies in every lnrrticular to the left-hand unit. I

llhree air-controlled cylindersl are made use ot in thefoperationolfy each tamper' unit, a' cylinderiSS as .heretofore `described for the lateral adjustmentof thetamp'er gun A39,- a cylinder 42 for. the angularor tilting adjustment and a cylinder ,43' for the vertical .i adjustment of the gun (Figure 1). The construction and operation-of all thev cylinders and pistons are substantially the' saine except in some particulars with reference to the cylinder 38, which lWill be hereinafter explained. t' l i `Refer-ring to Figurese, 5, and 10, the cylinder 38 is provided with heads 1li-and 15 having 'stuiin'g boxe-S t6 through both of tvi'iich'a piston rod 46a passes, While the cylin# ders 12 and 13 have one vclosed cylinder head i5@ from `which a supporting lug 15b pro jects, Ports'f'? andA Z18are Varranged in all cylinders near the headsVV by which air yunder ir/assure is admitted andexhausted'. A pi`ston L1 9 is firmly'secu'rod to the pistonvrod da in cylinder 8S and to the piston'rod 50 in cylinder 12 in any suitable manner,"as by shrinkage or threaded means and is provided with' the peripheral Aportholes 51 and 52, `opening in opposite directions-through lat'- eral ports 5,1u and 52jm inl the cylinder cham? bers o3 and 5e. Piston valves actuated by coil springs to seat against rods or Wires 5S;L and close the ports 51n and 52:1,are-arranged in the peripheral'-portsl and l52 otl thepiston19. Air under pressure is'admitted to one end yoit the cylinders and exhausted from the other through the ports, according to the direction it isdesired to move the piston 49, and as the piston' closes the corresponding port, air is trapped between the piston. and the cylinder head, forming an Iair cushion, the lateral ports 51a and 52, be-

ing then closed by the piston' valves 55. `Wheniit isy desired to return the piston, the air is exhausted from the end opposite the `air cushion and compressed air isadmitt-ed 'through the port adjacent the cushion;` as shown in Figure 5, When the piston valve 55 Will vbe depressed to uncover the port 512' and Vair under pressure will enterbehind the piston 19, moving it Atovvards the opposite endof the cylinder. The distance between the peripheral ports 51 and 52 in the piston and the ends of the pistons-is suflicient to preventl the lpiston ports passing (under'or- 'dinary conditions) the ports in the cylinder, y

ofballasting materiah are inserted in the to the guns through ports 58 and exhaustedv froml the guns through ports 59.

`Referring particularly to Figure 10, it will be noted that the gun 39 is detachably connected to the piston rod'50 ot the cylinder l12 by means of a crosshead() to rwhich the rod is' secured'by threaded or other means. The gun S9may be detachably fastened to the vcrosshead 60 by bolts 61, as shown in Figure 10, or by inserting' the 'gun 39 in a `crosshead 60a .and securing it by means of 'a set screw '62 or other equivalent means, as-shovvn in Figure 11. f The vcrosshead 60 is slidingly supported upon a bar 63 rigidly secured to the cylinder in any suitable manner, asy by 'danges 641 and tous 65. Y y

At the outer end of the cylinder 42 isa swinging arm 66 'having a longitudinal slot 67 in Which a pin 68 passing through the cylinder head 15b, is adapted to slide. This arm is free to oscillate with the cylinder' 12 and move across the machinel Withl it and forms a convenient support for the control valves, as vvill hereinafter appear.: A radius bar 69 is pivoted to the Vpinl 68. and extending towards the center of theinachine, is sivingingly connected at 70 to a horizontal slide 71 arranged in the guideivays e() and L11 onl the body of the compressed air tank 37. A lever 72 is fulcrumed at 73011 the radius bar 69 and is pivoted at 711 to the. slideyl and .at 'T 5 Vto a block`7 6 adjustably connected tothe bar 63-by means of'an adjusting screw 77. -This :lever 72, in conjunction with the radius bar 69 and cylinder bar 63, swingingly supports the inner end of the gun 39 and the three I,pivot points '73, 74 and .7 5 ofithe lever 72-fare located in such relationship lto yeach other :and tothe pivot points of Athefradius bar'69 fthat vertical adjustment of the outer end of the gun 39 will have substantially no veffect von the working position of the lower 'tamping -zend of the bar `67, as indicated in :the lfull and dotted line fpositions shown in Figure :10. By adjusting the :gun bar 63 vertically with relation -to the pivot .fpoint 75, the location ot the 'tamping point may however be `varied vertically vto adapt =the tamping bar to .the depth .ofthe ties, and this adjustment ymay be performed by the screw 77.

I Lpreferto lmake the radius bar 69 in two sections and arrange thescrew between the twoesec'tions. A rodf7-8 is securedto the piston 49 gin the cylinder 43, vas-shown in Figure 5,:and.adjustablyconnected at 79 tothe flange 64 'by pins fitting suitable lholes 79'1 or a. slot Lina-y be varranged in the bar, im which the rod y78 maybe adjustably secured. The A.cylinder 43 is .pivotally .Supported at its upperend zuponla plate SOslidably arranged in the vupper :lateral ,guidcways 27 and 27a. A pin 80a passes `throulgji'h the 'ears 30b ofthe plate 8O :and'throughithe lug 45b of the cylinder Vhead 45aand upon :this pin is'also swingingly mountedthe slotted valve sup-porting arm '66. rl`he cylinder 42 `is raised .or lowered and the angular position of the tamper bars "57 is regulated by controllingfthe :positioniof the piston 49 in the cylinder 43, as above described, and indicated lby the dotted lines iin Figure 10. lt willalso'be noted'by particular reference to this figure thatthe point X on vthe tamper bar 57 nearfthe lower ledge of the'tie81, by reasoirof the peculiar and novelllinkage'and support ofthe tamperigun, will remain substantially ina fixed :position at allzpractical verticalangles to whichithe@tanipergun may be Aadjusted. rlhis :action 'will insure lfirm ramping under the tics at theffinish and uniform dependable ballasting offtheitrack.

The 'point X. may be 'vertically adjusted by meansfoffthe screw 7 71to=conform to different height and sizes of ties. The angular or semi-*horizontal position of 4thetamper bar vis adjusted during the initial` and subsequent tamping operation by adjustingfthe position of' the piston 49 in the cylinder'43 in the manner above disclosed', and retaining it in position by'closing` both admission and exhaust ports 2.47 and 48a rllhe'horizontal orlateral control and positioning of the tamper bar is accomplished by'a similar control oflthe piston 1l-9infthe horizontal airscylinder 3S. flel'erringto Figures 1, '2, 3 and "4, it will be seen that the piston rod 46a extendslout through both cylinder heads 44'and 45 a suitable distance beyond which vit carries duplicate cable sheaves 8.2;and 83 ratione end and similar sheaves 84and 85at theotherend. DuplicatesheavesBQ,El and 33@L are mounted upon a frame bracket 86 `at one side of the frame. 15 and duplicate sheaves 84-a and 85'CL are similarly mounted upon a bracket 8.7 at :the opposite side. Upper sheaves 82"A and '84h are mounted-'upon brackets '88 and 68a respectively. A cable 89 -is fastened toan eyebolt .90 in the :frame .post 24a at one side of the machine (see Figure 4l) 'and passes around Loneof the piston 1rods,.sheaves 82, forward Iaround one of Vithe 'sheaves 82, backwards around the other piston rod sheave82, under theo'ther sheave 82a, thence upwards and over the sheave 82b to .the slide 80,'to `which it.is attached.

At `the opposite end of the piston rod 46a,

Aa cable v91 is similarly secured at yone end to the frame ipost 24 at ,90'EL .and running around the sheaves 84,'342f851and 85a in a similar manner is carried upwards over the sheaves 84b andsecuredto the-opposite end of the slide-80,which forms the overhead supports .for the tampingunit. Below, the

stamping unit :is supported vupon the slide 71 movable in the guidesways 40 'and 41` of y the radiusbar69, andfthis slideis'connected Jina similar mannerlbyfcables 92 and 93 to the opposite ends of the `rpiston 2rod 46a. The :cabley 92 is y attached to the frame lmember 15 by means of an eye-bolt 94 from which it `runs backward` and forward over the sheaves 83 andl33a, thence down-wards under a! sheave '95 toV thefslide y71 to which it is attached. The cable `93 is similarly attached to the frame at 96 .and first :running backwards and forwards around the sheaves 85 and 85a, `is then carried downwards under the `sheave 97 and attached to the opposite end ofthe slide 71.' lt will be readily seen that the `movement of the piston rod'in any one direction will ycarry both theupper and lower supporting slides simultaneously and equally in the same direction, opposite'to that bit/piston, and that `the slides will Tbe vcarried'Ifour times the distance ofthe'- travel offthe piston rod by reason ofthe multiplesheavearrangement, asahove set forth, and' will rapidly carry the tampering` unit from one extreme end of ythe tie across the machine to the other with the'short length of piston travel available. j 4

The controlling yapparatus `for the admissi'onand'exhaust of compressed fairto and from all the cylinders andv'also `the suppl-y o'taiyfto the tampeuguns l prefer tomouut on 'the arm'66, so thatit will'movelaterally. across lthe lmachine along with the #tamper barsiand be vatall times convenient-'to the lil 0 f operator.

1t consists of a battery of three four-way valves for the air cylinders and a two-way valve for the air guns, the details ofy which are shown in Figures 6, 7 8 and 9 of the drawings. The valve housings 98 and 99 are mounted upon or made integral with a bar or plate 100 and the valves controlling the cylinders 38, 42 and 43 are substantially identical in construction, hence the descripr The valve valve housing and these ports are connected by means of couplings 106a-and 107a to flexible hose 108 and 109 which are attached to the ports 47 Aand 48 of the air cylinders. A circular valve 110 accurately fitting the cylindrical bore of the valve housing and having' semi-circular peripheral ports 111 and 112, is rotatably seated in the valve housing and held 'therein by a cover 113 (Figure 9). A valve stem 114 provided with an operating wheel or handle 115 is secured to the valve and projects through the cover 113. The peripheral ports 111 and 112 will register alternately with the admission ports 101 and exhaust port 104 when the valve 110 is turned 90 degrees and thereby alternately admit air to and exhaust it from the opposite ends of the air cylinders. As shown in Figure 6, air is exhausted through the port 111 and admitted througl'i the port 112 and when the valve is turned ninety degrees, air will be admitted through the port 112 and exhausted through theport' 111, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure v6.

When the valve 110 is turned forty-five degrees, all the ports are closed and the pistons in the' corresponding air cylinder will then be held stationary between air cushions on -both sides of the piston 49. By operating one or more ofthe valves therefor, the operator can at any time shift the position of the pistons in the cylinders 38, 42 and 43, and thereby accordingly move the tamperguns 39 to assume the different angular, vertical and lateral positions necessary during the progress of the work. rllhe tamper guns are controlled by a smaller straight-way valve, mounted in the valve housing 99 and provided with 'a handewheel or handle 116 by the operation of which air from the compressed airtank 37 to the gun 39 is controlled through a hose 117 and admitted to the gun through a hose 118. For the sake o-f clearness the air hose connections between the valves and cylinders have not been shown completely in the drawings, but it will be readily understood that each of the cylinders 38, 42 and 43 has similar air con-y nections to a corresponding valve 98.

The battery of valves for each tamper unit are operated from an operators platform 120 and12'1, preferably hinged to the frame members 15l at opposite ends of the machine and provided with braces 122 The machine is transported on the rails by power supplied by the motor 30 to the wheels 20 through a suitable transmission gearing, preferably comprising a change speedgear and reverse box 123 (see Figures 1 and 2), bevel gears 124, shaft 125, bevel gears 126, transverse shaft 127, pinion 128 and gear 129 securedl to the axle 19 of the driving wheels v20. The transmission 'gearing is controlled bythe operator by means of a friction clutch 130 connecting the motor 30 with the gearing in the gear box 123 vin the ordinary way used in automotive practice.

1n moving the machine on the rails, it is at times difficult for the operator to exactly locate it on the'. precise spot necessary to bring the tamper bars in the correct vpositions relative to the ties. I therefore provide what I term a hand spotter whichV simply consists of a sprocket wheel-133 on the idle axle 19e (Figure 1;),vachain 134 connecting the sprocket with a smaller sprocket 135 mounted upon a shaft 136 and provided with an operating hand wheel 137 in convenient position for the operator, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. 'A clutch (not shown) may be provided on the axle 1.9 to diseng'age the axle from the wheel when the machine is run on the vrails through the power transmission. gearing. By means of 'this spotter the machine may be accurately located on the rails at the desired spot by turning the hand-wheel 13 7 which Will turn' i the wheel axle 19.

1n the operation of ballasting the track, the ballast cars dump a suliicient amount of ballast material in the center of the track to raise the ties and rails from about one to ten inches. The ballast is then scraped or spread to a corresponding depth above the top ofthe ties, after which pneumatic track jacks (not shown) but provided at each lcorner of the machine, lift the rails and ties the re'qiured f height. The tamping operation with both tamper units isthen started-with the tamper bars in their elevated angle position and finished attheir lowered angle position, solidly ramming the ballast under the ties, from' both sides of the tie. Vhen the tamper bars are to be moved from one side of the rail to the other, compressed air is turned into the lower ends of the cylinders 42 and exhausted from the upper ends, moving the pistons upwards to the limit of their stroke, after which the tamper units are moved laterallyv across the track by moving the pistons in the air cylinders. 38 to one or the other side` as required, in the manner heretofore described.

Various modifications may obviously be madev in the details ot' construction of this machine, without departing from theprincipleand Scope of the invention, and while 1 have shown and described the locating and positioning cylinders for the tamper guns as being operated by compressed air; it is evident that a noncompressible fluidlilre, for example, oil under pressure from a. common circulating pump and controlledk withy sub- Stantially the samev valve mechanism might be substituted :tor the control of the pistons 49 and.' 1V dovnot, therefore, confine theclaims to' the detailed construction as shown and described.

liclaim, as my invention 1.,'1he. combinatiom with a; tie tamping bar and its operating gun, of a fluid pressure controlled mechanism` for projecting and retractingA said bar and. gun.

2;. The combination, with. atietamping bar andits operating gun, of a fluid pressurev controlled mechanismy 'for projecting and retracting-said bar andV gun and locking saidgun against suchl movement during the tamping operation.

3i They combination, with a tie tamping bar and its.y operating gun, of a duid pressurecylinderhaving a piston and piston rod connected -with said gun for projecting and retracting; said tamping bar and gun.

4. rEhe combination-7 with a tie tamping bar and its operating gun, of a fluid pressure controlled mechanism for projecting and retracting said bar and gun and oscillatingl themA on a horizontal axis adjacent thc pointA oit said bar.

5. The combination, with a tie tamping bar and its operating gun,l of a. fluid pressure cylinder having a.v piston, a rodv con.- nected; with saidy gun for projecting and retracting saidbar and gun, and: means for tilting said? cylinder to oscillate said bar and gunon aA horizontal axis adj acent the endiot1 saidbar.

6. The combination` with ay tie tamping bar, of a fluid pressure controlled mechanism. for projecting and retracting said bar, and, mechanism for oscillating said baron a horiz/,ontalaxisadjacent the endr thereof.

7. The combination, with a tie tamping bar, ola fluid pressure cylinder and' piston and arodtherefor connectedwith saidzbar for projecting and retracting it, and a second cylinder and; piston having a rod connected with saidfirst named cylinder for oscillating it vertically to rock said tamping bar on a horizontal axis adjacent the endl thereof.

8. The combination, with a tie tamping ban andi its operating gun, ot. a. fluid pressure.. cylinder and piston having a rod. conf -neoted withY said gun for. projecting and. re

ytilting movement.

tract-ing` said bar and gun, means for tilting said cylinder to oscillate said bar on a horizontal axis adjacent the end thereof, and means 'for holding said tamping bar in its working position during such movement.

9. The combination, with a tie tamping bar, of al fluid pressure cylinder having a piston, a rod connected with said bar, inet-ln anism for tilting said cylinder to rock said tamping bar on a horizontal axis, and means for holding said bar in its working position during such movement. j

10. The combination, with a tie tamping bar,fof;"a,luid pressure cylinder and piston having its rod.l connected with said bar, mechanism for tilting said cylinder' to roch said tainping bar on a horizontal axis,`and mechanism for holding the tamping' end ot said bar inv its working position during such 11. The combination, with a tie tamping bar, of a; fluidpressure cylinder and piston having its rod connected with said bar, mechanism for tilting said cylinder and tampingl bar on a horizontal axis. a radius b ar p ivotally connected with said cylinder and having a normally stationary pivot, and means in connection with said radius. bar for holding the end of said tamping' bar in its working' position during the tilting ot said cylinder and bar.

12..'1lhe combination, with a tie tamping bar, ot fluid pressurecontrolled mechanism for imparting a combined forward and backward and^ verticallyoscillating. movement tosaid bar, andv means for holding` said bar in its working position during the oscillating movement thereof. l

13. The combination, with a tie tamping bar, ot' fluid pressure controlled mechanism for impartingy a combined forward and backward' and vertically oscillating` movement to said bar, andmeans for holding said bar inits Working position during the oscillating movement thereof, said meansbeing adjustable to adapt the position of said tamping bar to the depth of the tie.

14. The combination, with a tie 'tamping` bar. ot fluid pressure controlled mechanism 'for imparting a combined forward and backward and vertically oscillating movement to said bar, and means for holding said bar in its worlnng position during the oscillating movement thereof, said means comprising a. pivoted radius bar connectedy with saidmechanism remote from said bar and adjacent thereto for guidingl andhholding saidtamping bar in its workingy position.

l5. The combination, withl a tie tamping` bar, of a fluidr pressure. cylinder having a piston, a rod connected with said bar, a second. fluid pressure cylinder and piston having its rod connected with said first named cylinder for oscillating, said. firstfna'med cyl.- inder; and, said` bar vertically, and. means for `guiding said first named cylinder and holding said bar in its working position.

16. rThe combination., with a tie tainping bar, of fluid pressure controlled mechanism for projecting and retracting said bar and imparting an oscillating movement thereto on a horizontal axis.l mechanism for shifting said bar and said fluid pressure operating means transversely, and means for holding said tamping bar in its. working position during its oscillating movement.

17. rlhe combination, with a. tic tamping bar, of a fluid pressure controlled mechanism for projecting and retracting said bar, oscillatingit on a horizontal axis and shifting .said bar transversely.

18. The combination, with atie tamping bar, of a fluid pressure cylinder and piston having its rod connected with said bar for projecting and retracting it, a second cylinder having its piston and rod connected with said first named cylinder for oscillating it and said bar on a horizontal axis, and a third fluid pressure controlled cylinder and piston for shifting said first named cylinders and said bar laterally to change the working position of said bar. y

' 19. The combination, with a tie tamping bar, of a. fluid pressure cylinder having its piston connected with said bar for imparting a forward and backward movement thereto, upper and lower slides mounted for horizontal movement transversely of said bar, and a fluid pressure controlled mechanism for oscillating said cylinder to tilt said bar and moving said slides horizontally to impart a transverse movement to said bar.

v20. The combination, with oppositely arranged tie tamping bars, of fluid pressure cont-rolled mechanism for projecting and rctractingr said bars, said means being mounted to hold said bars in their projected position, and meansfor Oscillating each of said bars on a horizontal axis adjacent the end thereof.

2l. rllhe combination, with oppositely arranged tie tamping bars, of fluid pressure cylinders having pistons and rods connecting said pistons with said bars for projecting and retracting` them, said cylinders being mounted to oscillate'vertically and impart a rocking movement to said bars on a horizontal axis.

22. The combination7 with oppositely arranged tie tamping bars, of fluid pressure controlled mechanism connected' withsaid bars for projecting, retracting, and rocking them 0n a horizontal axis and imparting a rtransverse movement to said bars for changing the working position thereof.

23. The combination, with a truck frame and supporting ywheels therefor, of a tie tamping apparatus mounted in said frame and comprising a tamping bar, and fluid pressure controlled mechanism for projecting and retracting said bar, rocking itl on a horizontal axis and shifting said bar later'- ally to change the working position thereof.

24;. The: combination, with a frame and supporting wheels therefor, of oppositely arranged tie tamping bars and fluid pressure operated cylinders having pistons and rods connected with saidV bars for imparting a forward and backward movement thereto, rocking said bars on a horizontal axis and shifting them laterally to change the working position of said bars.

25. The combination, with al tie tamping bar, of a fluid pressure vcontrolled'cylinder and piston connected with said bar for reciprocating it, a second cylinder and piston for imparting an oscillating movement to said first named cylinder and bar, valvescontrolling the flow of fluid to said cylinders, and an arm mounted to move withsaid first named cylinder ,and whereon said valves-are mounted. i i

26. The combination, with a tie tamping bar, of a fluid pressure controlled cylinder and piston connected with said'bar for reciprocating it, a second cylinder and piston for oscillating said first named cylinder and bar, a slotted arm having .a sliding connection with said first named cylinder to-movethered with, and valves mounted'on said arm for controlling the flow of fluid to said cylinders.

27. The combination, with oppositely arranged tie tamping bars, of fluid pressure controlled cylinders and pistons connected with said ybars respectively for reciprocating them, second cylinders and pistons for tilting said first named cylinders and oscillating said bars on a horizontal aXis, pivoted arms connected with said first named cylinders and suitable valves mounted on saidv arms and controlling the flow offluid to said cylinders. f f

28. The combin tion, with a tie tamping bar, of a fluid pressure cylinder and .piston connected with said bar for reciprocating it, an oscillating radius bar pivotally connected Vwith said cylinder for guiding it vertically,

a lever connected with said radius bar for holding said tamping bar in its working position, a second cylinder and piston connected with said first named cylinder for imparting a vertical movement thereto, and

rocking said tamping bar on a horizontal and having means at its other end for connection with said tamping har for holding it in its working position during the vertical movement of said cylinder.

30. The combination, with a pair oi' oppositely arranged tie tamping bars, of 'Huid pressure cylinders having their pistons connected with said hars for reciprocating them, radius bars pivotally supported' above the lower ends of said bars and connected with said cylinders, .a second pair of cylinders having` their pistons connected with said first named cylinders for raising and lowering them and rocking said tamping bars on a horizontal axis, pivoted levers connected with said radius bars and said iirst named cylinders for holding said tamping bars .in their working position, and valves for Controlling the flow of fluid pressure to and from said cylinders.

In witness whereof, have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of Feby. 1921.

DIGHTN A. ROBINSON. 

